Index Properties of Soil and

Soil Classification
Eng. Ahmed Yehia
Water Content (Wc %)
Specific Gravity of Solid Particles (Gs)
𝑊𝑠
𝐺𝑠 = = 2.6~2.9
𝑉𝑠 × 𝛾𝑤
 Specific Gravity of Solid Particles (Gs)

𝑊𝑠
𝐺𝑠 = = 2.6~2.9
𝑉𝑠 × 𝛾𝑤
 Unit Weight of Soil
𝑊
𝛾=
𝑉

Core Cutter test

Particle Size distribution
Particle Size distribution
Soil Type Size (Egyptian Code) Size AASHTO Test Performed
Gravel > 4.75 mm > 2 mm
Sieve Analysis
Sand 4.75 ~ 0.75 mm 2 mm ~ 0.075
Silt 0.075 ~ 0.002 mm 0.075 ~ 0.002 mm
Hydrometer
Clay < 0.002 mm < 0.002 mm

Sieve Analysis Hydrometer

 Sieve Analysis
Sieve No. Sieve Size Weight Retained

4 4.75 0

10 2 100

20 0.85 120

40 0.425 120

60 0.25 30

Cum Retained % Passing

Sieve Analysis Example =
𝑊𝑡 − 𝑊𝑖
𝑊𝑡
∗ 100

Weight Retained
Sieve No. Sieve Size
(gm)
729 − 0
4 4.75 mm 0 0 = ∗ 100 = 100
729
729 − 40
10 2 mm 40 0+40 = 40 = ∗ 100 = 94.5
729
729 − 100
20 0.85 mm 60 40 + 60 = 100 = ∗ 100 = 86.3
729
729 − 189
40 0.425 mm 89 189 = ∗ 100 = 74.1
729
60 0.25 140 329 54.9
80 0.18 122 451 38.1
100 0.15 210 661 9.3
200 0.075 56 717 1.7
Pan - 12 729 0
∑ 729 (WT)
 %
Size Passing

4.75 100
2 94.5
0.85 86.3
0.425 74.1
0.25 54.9
0.18 38.1
0.15 9.3
0.075 1.7
- 0
 Sieve Analysis

Grain size distribution “by using sieve

analysis”
Coefficient of uniformity
CU = D60/D10
Coefficient of concavity (or curvature)
CC= (D30)^2/(D10 × D60)
D10(effective Diameter): size
corresponding to 10% Passing
D30: size corresponding to 30% Passing
D60: size corresponding to 60% Passing
D Size

D10 0.15
D30 0.17
D60 0.27
The Soil is Poorly Graded
Relative Density of Sand Dr%

emin , γdmax emax , γdmin e , γdfield

Relative density
Dr = [(emax – e)/(emax – emin)] × 100

= [(γD field – γD min)/(γD max – γD min)][γD max/γD

field] × 100
Relative Density of Sand Dr%
 Example
A sand has a minimum void ratio of 0.41 and a maximum void ratio of 0. 78.
The actual void ratio of the sand is 0.576.
The relative density of the sand is most nearly
(A) 40%
(B) 55%
(C) 65%
(D) 80%
Dr= [(emax – e)/(emax – emin)] x 100
=(0.78 - 0.576)/(0.78 - 0.41) x 100
=55%

The answer s (B).

Example